theme-color-pickernpm
Advisory published Updated
theme-color-picker is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-6357) that runs destructive / sabotage code (malicious versions 2.0.28, 2.0.30, 2.0.31). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.
Malicious code in theme-color-picker (npm)
What this malware does
Although the package presents itself as a 'theme color picker', package.json identifies the publisher as analysis-chart.io with repository analysis-chart/analysis-chart, and the shipped lib/picker.js is a Windows dropper unrelated to any color-picker functionality. lib/picker.js (line 11) downloads https://github.com/Analysis-Chart/analysis-chart/releases/download/v1/payload.bin.enc, XOR-decrypts the response with key 0x42, base64-decodes it, validates an MZ/PE header, writes the resulting DLL under %APPDATA%/Microsoft/Windows with a randomized name, and executes it via rundll32. It then registers a Scheduled Task named 'WindowsUpdateService' to re-launch the DLL at logon with HIGHEST privileges, deletes the package files from node_modules, and rewrites the consumer's root package.json to remove the 'analysis-chart' dependency entry to hide its tracks. package.json declares scripts.install: 'node lib/chart-loader.js', wiring auto-execution at npm install; the dropper logic is colocated in lib/ alongside that hook. The user-facing index.js color-picker is cover. Installer impact: Windows machines that run npm install of this package fetch and execute attacker-controlled native code with persistence; the malicious tree then self-removes from node_modules and the root manifest, complicating detection.
Any computer that has this package installed or running should be considered fully compromised. All secrets and keys stored on that computer should be rotated immediately from a different computer. The package should be removed, but as full control of the computer may have been given to an outside entity, there is no guarantee that removing the package will remove all malicious software resulting from installing it.
Malicious versions
Indicators of compromise (SHA-256)
Detection & response playbook
Destructive / sabotageFind it
Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for theme-color-picker (3 malicious versions).
If you installed it — respond
theme-color-picker carries a destructive/sabotage payload. Remove it immediately, restore any affected data from clean backups, and verify integrity of build outputs that may have been tampered with.
Did it already run?
If theme-color-picker was installed, its post-install payload may already have run. Removing the package does not undo that — check outbound connections and credential use from the install window onward.
Frequently asked questions
Campaign
References
Credits
- Amazon Inspector · finder
Detect & block this
O3 blocks theme-color-picker-class packages before install and in CI — and if it already ran, its runtime egress monitoring catches the malicious outbound activity and severs the channel.